I must admit that up until a few minutes ago, I never really "got" twitter. I mean, I knew what it was, but never found anything that drew me to it for more than curiosity.
Last week Will Richardson's workshop convinced me to give it a real go, and then a few minutes ago, a harmless post by glassbeed (a.k.a. Clarence Fisher) really got my curiosity running.
He asked simply...
Always challenged by a good question, I turned up 3 new web sites that really shook things up for me:
http://Twittervision.com
http://flickrvision.com/
http://www.lkozma.net/wpv/index.html
3 sites that I would never have otherwise drifted upon that on your very first visit make you realize how connected we are, and how small the world is. The power of learning networks (like twitter, or commun-IT.org for that matter) to help shape new questions and curiosity is simply amazing.
Thanks, Clarence.
Keywords: learning networks, twitter
Comments
Never got it either, but flickrvision.com is the most interesting.
Is there an answer to glassbeed's question? To my mind, that's like looking into Santa's workshop!
I did find one more really great visualization of wikipedia and the online wiki editing process:
http://www.research.ibm.com/visual/projects/history_flow/
Talk about the "living earth" - people in action! Wow - now I have something else to look at in those spare moments.
YES I do jest!
I suspect we are within a time where the full effect will be seen 100 years from now but for those who are lucky enough to be "in it" it really is quite amazing. As Erasmus said of the printing press and other changes in the early 16th century, "Immortal God, what a world I see dawning. Why can I not be young again?"
Gee, I can relate to that! The Next Renaissance?
Thanks Tim
Geoff
Here is Clarence's post on the topic of wikipedia...
http://remoteaccess.typepad.com/remote_access/2007/12/revising-wikped.h
Let me put this into context: I am no twitter expert, but have been using it on and off again beginning in April. If you need a guide to help you understand Twitter – See http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/twitter-guide/
Twitter can be a very addictive social network if you are an active member of the community. My feeling is that the benefits you get are directly related to the social capital that you put into the network. I often find twitter conversations remind me of being in a staff room, but the staff are people that I decided to add to my network, so there is much more specialization in the discussion.
If you suddenly decide to jump into twitter and have expectations that all your curricular questions will be answered think again. If you post once in a while, don’t respond to anyone else, have five people in your network, and are not jumping into the discussions but simply extracting resources that are being shared, then you are only getting 5% of twitter.
Where you benefit is when others begin to understand your interests, needs and areas of specializations. You contribute, share, jump into conversations, direct message, get personal, and broaden your network. You develop relationships.
IF you decide to invest your time, you will find people direct messaging you resources you would not have found yourself, asking questions and getting a broad range of answers, finding current events online, or just learning something new. It's kind of link a blog in hyperdrive. As a self-directed PD and resource tool, I would have to say that a well developed social network like Twitter is a huge advantage for me. (Bernie Dodge just tweeted me not too long ago, that was just cool.)
Alec Couros shared these images he used in his thesis over twitter not to long ago. I think it hits the nail on the head.
I am very new to twitter and am working on connecting it to other services I subscribe to to make it more seemless. For example, I have a twitter flake in Pageflakes where I can contribute and read what my network has shared. As well, I've also successfully sent a twitter message from Jott.
I still have a lot of growing to do when it comes to using twitter but the potential to connect quickly to a network seems to allow for a larger access to a community. Sort of like Commun-IT but on a different scale.
For everyone reading this... my Twitter name is rdelorenzo - please add me to your netork and I would be happy to add you to mine!
Interesting concept. This fits quite well with an idea I have had for a while re. a new physical model for organizations - not a pyramid but a geodesic sphere. Each person is at "their centre" of the model from their perspective. It is VERY different in terms of information flow and feeling of worth. We all know where we are in the pyramid! I see this model in action in things like social networking but also in some large projects like Open Source, OLPC etc.
I am not sure if I can really get "into" Twitter and have only put my toes into Facebook but these things are so obviously a different, and I think refreshing, way of looking at how things can work today. Sort of the split between the quest for community and the desire for individuality? Oops - a bit heavy for a Thursday before a holiday!
Thanks Quentin for your insight into Twitter. Makes a lot sense. And thanks to Tim for this great thread and that amazing visualization of Wikipedia. Way cool!
Barb